The Journey of Flight.pdf - Valkyrie Cadet

Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE)
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Gamma Ray Observatory
(GRO) is equipped with
four detectors to study
gamma rays, the atomic
messengers that tell the
story of cataclysmic
events in our universe.
The Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) satellite is an explorer-class spacecraft. It’s a continuation
of the great strides already made in x-ray astronomy through the use of satellites. Astronomers are
particularly interested in x-ray emissions coming from galaxies. They believe that the study of such xray
emissions from groups of galaxies will help them understand how giant systems of galaxies form.
RXTE was launched into a low earth orbit in 1995 and its mission continues today. The spacecraft
carries three science instruments including high-energy x-ray timing equipment, an all-sky monitor and
a Proportional Counter Array. It is able to detect x-ray sources that are 50 to 100 times weaker than
those sources detected by earlier searches. The RXTE is studying a variety of x-ray sources including
white dwarfs, accreting neutron stars, black holes, and active galactic nuclei.
The Hubble Space Telescope
Earth’s atmosphere limits the usefulness of our best astronomical telescopes. The atmosphere interferes
with light rays by scattering, bending or blocking some of them out before they reach a telescope
lens. Another problem is light pollution. Light pollution results from the interaction of the atmosphere
and man-made lights. Light pollution can be experienced when you look for the stars in the sky at night
while in a city. Only the brighter stars can be seen.
The Hubble Space Telescope is built to work similar to a ground observatory. It operates from an
altitude of about 310 miles above the Earth. At this altitude, it is free of the atmospheric interference.
Astronomers are able to detect faint objects that are 50 times better than those seen from Earth-based